Aggregates Manager

April 2014

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State &
Province
NEWS
by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief
AGGREGATES MANAGER April 2014
4
Connecticut
Hundreds of residents near Branford's Stony Creek Quarry were evacuated in early February a er rubber mats caught ﬁ re not far from an
explosives storage area. eShorelineTimes.com reports that personnel from the state bomb squad; the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives; state emergency management oﬃ cials; and ﬁ reﬁ ghters from two towns assisted in pu ing out the ﬁ re. e report
indicates the ﬁ re was caused by quarry workers burning cardboard previously used to store explosives. e ﬁ re was ruled accidental.
State &
Province
NEWS
by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief
tdunphy@randallreilly.com
Alabama
M&N Materials ﬁ led a 15-page lawsuit against the town of Gurley,
WAFF.com reports, noting the lawsuit outlines steps the town has taken
for more than a decade to prevent quarry operations at its property. The
lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as legal fees.
It also seeks an injunction to prevent the town from using its authority
over the proposed quarry site. At Aggregates Manager's press time, no
hearing date had been scheduled.
Kansas
Gov. Sam Brownback presented Mid-State Materials LLC, of
Lecompton, with the 2013 Governor's Mined Land Reclamation
Award for work at its Big Springs quarry in Douglas County.
LJWorld.com reports that the operation covers 50 acres, and the
project included wildlife food plots, reintroduction of quail, and the
construction of several ponds. The award was presented at a meet-
ing of the Kansas Aggregate Producers Association.
Maine
Hughes Bros. are trying for a second time to have a proposed quarry in Ed-
dington approved by town planners. Bangor Daily News reports the compa-
ny's ﬁ rst attempt was rejected in October. With its second application for an
aggregates operation, the company moved the access point to the quarry,
increased the buffer zone between the site and residences, and coordinated
additional studies on the site's potential impact on noise and water. The
quarry would initially be 5 to 10 acres with potential growth up to 20 acres.
In addition to considering the proposal, town ofﬁ cials are also working on a
proposal for a 180-day moratorium on quarry applications.
Alaska
A group of ranchers who fought a mountaintop quarry and asphalt
plant near Ione won the latest round in court. e Record reports
Amador Superior Court Judge J.S. Hermanson ruled that county
oﬃ cials "failed to accurately reveal the likely traﬃ c impacts of the
Newman Ridge quarry before environmental documents were ap-
proved for the project two years ago." e judge ordered local oﬃ -
cials to address traﬃ c impacts before the project can be approved.
To keep up to date with this
breakdown of news in the
United States and Canada, visit
www.AggMan.com for daily updates.
Kansas
A break-in at the Neosho County quarry may cost local taxpayers
approximately $30,000; the value of electrical cables taken from
the site. According to e Chanute Tribune, the electrical supply
cables from the rock crusher were removed, as well as cables from an
assortment of other equipment. Road and Bridge Director Charles
Morse told the newspaper that he anticipated approximately $30,000
in losses when all the replacements are acquired. New security
measures will be implemented at the quarry. A similar break-in took
place at Midwest Minerals, near Parsons.
California
Vulcan Materials Co. is once again mining at its Azusa Rock Quarry, and
work is well underway to convert the site's benches into 1- to 2-foot
microbenches, The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. As that work is com-
pleted, the hillside is being replanted with native vegetation, and about 20
percent of the reclamation has already been accomplished. A trail to the
Fish Canyon Trailhead is also expected to be completely open by Aug. 20.
Vulcan will eventually shift its operations from 80 acres on the eastern end
of the 270-acre property to 80 acres on its western end. Vulcan ofﬁ cials
told the newspaper that the company has paid the city of Azusa more than
$2.5 million in tax revenues as part of its agreement.
Maryland
Chaney Enterprises is seeking permission to move a sand and gravel
plant and ready-mix concrete plant from one portion of its 211-acre
property in Charles County to another part of the property. According
to Southern Maryland Newspapers Online, the new location is currently
zoned rural conservation and would need to be reclassiﬁ ed as heavy
industrial. e operator received a special exception from the Board of
Appeals in 2010 that would allow the plant's opening and operation,
but the terms of that agreement would be in eﬀ ect for 25 years. e
company is seeking a more permanent decision.